Beverly Hills Divorce Lawyer

Contact our divorce attorneys today to find out how we can help you navigate the complex process of divorce. We are here to help you understand your rights and help you achieve the results you desire.

Visit Our Beverly Hills, CA Divorce Office

Berenji & Associates is located at 9595 Wilshire Blvd Ste 959 Beverly Hills CA 90212 and can be reached at (310) 271-6290.

Overview of the Divorce Process in Beverly Hills

Divorce is the formal process of ending a legal marriage. The process begins when one spouse (the petitioner) files a request to dissolve the marriage with a local court. This request must also be formally served to the other spouse (the respondent).

Once the paperwork has been filed, the spouses must get to work on hammering out the details of the divorce. This will include figuring out how property should be divided, who will get custody of the kids, and whether one spouse will receive financial support.

The divorce cannot be finalized until all of these (and other) loose ends are resolved.Spouses are encouraged to figure out the details of the divorce on their own without the help of a judge.

Once a dispute goes to court, spouses lose the right to have control over the situation. Judges will review the disputes and make a decision that they deem to be most appropriate. You want to avoid these situations, whenever possible. Keeping decisions in your hands will help you get what you want out of your divorce. Going to court can be risky and can really increase the cost of your divorce.

Our attorneys can help you navigate these difficult negotiations with your spouse. It’s important to get as many details of your divorce figured out privately, as possible.

Once the terms of a divorce are finalized, a judge will review the request to dissolve the marriage. As long as all required steps have been completed, he or she will enter a final judgment. The final judgment will “restore the parties to the state of unmarried persons.” In other words, once the final judgment is signed you will be single again. Your marriage will officially be over.

Alternatives to Divorce

While divorce is the most widely-used method for ending a marriage, California does offer other alternatives. Separation and annulment are both ways to formally end a marriage.

Separation: Separation won’t actually nullify your marriage. However, it can allow you and your spouse to live separate lives without giving up the benefits of marriage. When you are separated you still get to enjoy tax breaks, health care, and other perks of marriage. Many couples test out what a divorce would be like by separating first. In fact, it is often the first step in getting divorced.

Annulment: You may be able to bypass the lengthy and time-consuming process of getting a divorce if you can prove that your marriage is void. There are two ways this can be done. The first is by proving that your marriage was never legal, at all. This could be the case if you forgot to file your marriage paperwork if you and your spouse are related. The second is by proving that the marriage is valid but voidable. This could be the case if your marriage is based on a fraud or if you weren’t of sound mind when you tied the knot. There are very limited situations in which an annulment will be granted.

Do you think an alternative to divorce may be the best option for you? Call our Beverly Hills divorce attorneys to learn more.

Timeline for Divorce

Divorce doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, Family Code §2339 requires that the process of divorce takes a minimum of 6 months. The 6 months time period typically begins the moment you file your official request to dissolve the marriage and serve the divorce papers on your spouse. A judge will not even consider signing a final judgment until at least 6 months from that date.

6 months is the minimum amount of time the process of divorce can take in California. Many divorces take much longer to resolve. Why? The final judgment can only be issued once all of the important details of your split have been figured out. The longer you take to find mutually-agreeable decisions, the longer your divorce will take.

Grounds for Getting a Divorce

There are two very important issues that must be addressed before you file your request to get divorced in California: residency and reason.

Residency Requirements

There are two primary residency issues: state residency and local residency. At least one spouse must satisfy the following residency requirements as stated in Family Code §2320 if you want to get a divorce in Beverly Hills:

• State Residency Requirement: Resident of California for 6 months prior to petition; and
• Local Residency Requirements: Resident of Los Angeles County for 3 months prior to petition.

A court will not consider your request for a divorce until you can prove that you satisfy both of these residency requirements.

Note: there may be exceptions for same-sex couples seeking a divorce. The state will accept your petition for divorce if you were married in California but the state in which you currently live refuses to help you get a divorce.

Reason for Divorce

California is what is known as a “no-fault” state. This simply means that one spouse doesn’t have to shoulder the blame for why the marriage didn’t work out. Spouses simply have to explain that the marriage can’t continue because of irreconcilable differences. This is a fairly broad term that can cover a wide range of reasons for getting a divorce: infidelity, not spending enough time together, or falling out of love.

A spouse can also request a divorce if the other spouse suffers from incurable insanity. This simply means that the spouse has a verified mental condition from which he or she will never recover.

Keeping Your Divorce Private

Divorce is a formal legal process. As a result, the records of divorce are typically public. However, our Beverly Hills attorneys understand that you may not want the details of your divorce out in the open. There are certain ways that we can help you to keep the terms of your split private.

• Protective Orders: Celebrities and high-net-worth clients often ask our attorneys to seek a protective order to keep sensitive information private.
• Private Resolutions: Resolving the terms of your divorce by using mediation, arbitration, or collaborative divorce can help to shield the details from public view. The terms of your private contractual agreement are for your eyes only.

Are you interested in keeping your divorce private? Our divorce attorneys can help. Call us today to discuss your legal options.

Alternatives to Divorce

Part of getting a divorce is figuring out how to set the table for the future. You will have to decide how to dissolve all aspects of your marriage and begin life as a single person. Navigating all of the decisions you will have to make can be overwhelming. The process can be particularly tough if you and your spouse can’t agree on important decisions. Fortunately, there are certain devices that can help you through the process.

Divorce Mediation

Mediation is a great tool if you think you and your spouse can eventually see eye to eye on important decisions. This process uses the help of a neutral third party known as a mediator. The mediator helps to facilitate productive conversations about what each spouse wants to get out of the divorce. Ideally, the mediator helps each spouse see the bigger picture and work toward finding mutually-agreeable decisions. Once spouses have agreed on the terms of the divorce, the mediator will draw up a formal contract. Once signed, the spouses are bound to its terms. Mediation is a great tool because spouses retain the power to make important decisions.

Divorce Arbitration

Arbitration is essentially like a private trial. It is also conducted by a neutral third party. However, the arbitrator reserves the power to make unilateral decisions about a divorce. Unlike mediation, spouses retain less control over the outcome of the dispute. Arbitration tends to be less expensive than formal litigation and also provides a shield of privacy over the proceedings.

Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative divorce uses the expertise of attorneys to help spouses resolve conflicts and settle on mutually-agreeable terms. The process requires that each spouse is represented by an attorney and commits to settling all divorce-related disputes without the help of a court. Using collaborative divorce allows spouses to maintain control over all decisions that are made. If the process is unsuccessful, the spouses will have to hire new attorneys and start the process of getting a divorce all over again.

Do you need help figuring out the best way to navigate your divorce? Contact our legal team for help. We have over 25 years of combined experience and can guide you through this difficult time in your life. We offer a case evaluation, so do not hesitate to call us for help today.

Speak with a Beverly Hills Divorce Lawyer Today

Are you thinking about getting a divorce? Our divorce attorneys know that making the decision to take your life in a new direction can be overwhelming. We are here to help you through this difficult time. We want to help you identify what you want to get out of your divorce and fight to realize those results. If you have children, our compassionate attorneys will fight to protect them from any of the harmful effects of the divorce process. Call us today to schedule your case evaluation. The next step in your life begins today.